Declaration of Dependence
As Christians we celebrate two birthdays… The date that we were born and the date that we were born again. When we were born again of God’s spirit, This was our Declaration of Independence from our selves and our Declaration of
Dependence on our Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise we commemorate the Fourth of July 1776, our nation’s birthday. On this date our nation was born when our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. This was also our nation’s Declaration of Dependence on Almighty God when they pledged heir lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor in “a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.” .
Many people have walked down the aisle in church at the invitation to receive Jesus Christ. However, when they continue to commit sin, these people question whether or not they actually received salvation. There has been a shift in our church pulpits from preaching the “bad news” of the gospel: the emphasis on sin, death, and condemnation. However, the gospel is both good news and bad news. How do you convince the world of the need for salvation unless they understand that they are in need of salving? Jesus came to shine the light of the gospel of salvation to convict people of their sin and their need for repentance. He came to reveal the lies and hypocrisy of the religion of his day. He said to the Scribes and Pharisee’s, “in vain do you worship me, you draw near unto with your mouth and honor me with you lips but your heart is far from me.”
Like the Pharisees, Many are offended at the bad news that without Him, we’re hopeless and condemned to death… we’re helpless in our own power to approach the throne of a righteous God.
Jesus didn’t come to save those who thought that they were righteous in their own power. Instead, he came to minister to those who knew they were sick spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. He came to rescue the ones who knew that they were in need of repentance. To repent means to “change your mind” and to turn from sin and unto the Saviour from sin. Jesus came not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.
There are four types of responses upon hearing the gospel of salvation. These responses are illustrated In Matthew 13 by Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed.
The sower sowed the seed. The seed represents the Word of God. The seed fell on four types of ground. Each type of soil represents one of the responses people have when they hear the gospel. The first type of soil is the hard packed earth. This represents people who have hardened their hearts so that the seed of the Word cannot penetrate. The devil will snatch away the seed before it can enter in. This was the reaction of one thief crucified with Christ who hardened his heart, joined in with the mockers, and hurled insults and accusations at Jesus.
The second type of soil is represented by the stony ground. These are people who receive the seed of the Word and it immediately springs up. However, because they have no depth of soil, the seed cannot take root. As soon as the hot sun appears representing persecution, they wither and die. These are people who go through the motions and walk down the aisle. They cannot live the truth of the Word because the seed of the Holy Spirit has not penetrated their hearts. They are living according to the world’s systems and cannot see from a spiritual perspective. When they encounter trials and tribulation, they quickly turn away from the truth of the Word.
The third category is represented by the soil that receives the Word. However, weeds come up and choke out the word that they originally received. The weeds are the cares of life and riches of the world. Even though those in this category receive the seed of the word with joy, they never bring forth fruit because they succumb to the cares of this world and endure only for a season. Those in Category three have a works-based concept of salvation. They think that they have to help God out and that Jesus’ salvation is insufficient. They have not learned what Peter said when faced with the cares of this world: “casting all your cares upon him for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
According to Luke 6:46, Jesus said, “why do you call me Lord and yet do not do the the things that I have commanded you?” In Matthew 7 they reply, “have we not cast out demons and done many miracles in your name?” Jesus will say, “depart from me, I never knew you, ye that work iniquity.”
The fourth type of soil is the good ground. This type of soil receives the seed of the Word and represents believers who receive the word into their hearts. They bring forth fruit abundantly.
The Devils job is to steal the seed of the Word from our hearts. However, for those in Category Four who receive the word the Psalmist said: “Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life.” According to Psalm 1, “BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
When God reaches down to those he has called, His chosen ones will reach up and grasp his son’s nail pierced hands. When we’re born again and confess “Jesus is Lord,” our prayer will be, “Lord I’m not the man you intended me to be, Lord please make me that man.”
Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock…” The decision is whether or not we believe that Jesus Christ is who he said he is. Either the gospel of Christ is irresistible or it’s not. When those who have been called according to his purpose confess “Jesus is Lord,” and believe that God has raised him from the dead, they are saved. They are made whole, born again of God’s Holy Spirit.
A man with Lou Gehrig’s disease called Pete to meet with him. He told Pete, “I’ve been diagnosed with an incurable disease where I’ll just waste away. I’m thinking that so I won’t be a burden to my wife and children, maybe I should just commit suicide.” Pete recounted the four types of responses after hearing the Word of salvation. Pete asked him, “which category do you want to be in?” His answer was, “I want to be in Category four.”
There are two diagnostic questions to find out the category to which a person belongs. The first is “if you died today, where will you spend the rest of eternity?” Regardless of their response, the Word of God says that there’s one way we can know for sure. According to 1 Thes 1:5. “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost….” John 20:31 says, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
The second question is “If you were standing at the gates of heaven and Jesus said, “why should I let you in?” What would you say?” Again, the answer is in the Word of God. According to Ephesians 2:8-9″. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.”
Our Declaration of Independence from the power of sin is our declaration of dependence on divine Providence. He alone is our sufficiency for salvation.
As American citizens we have declared our independence from other national powers foreign and domestic. As citizens of heaven we have declared our independence from the power of darkness. As dual citizens, may we with our Founding Fathers pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor on firm reliance upon protection of Divine Providence. This is our Declaration of Dependence on our Heavenly Father for God alone is our sufficiency in all things.
And in our dependence on Him, may we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael